Deadwax Records
Case Study
Role: Solo Product Designer
Tools: Figma
Platform: Website
Duration: 1 Month, 80 hours
Deadwax Records is my local record shop that specializes in selling hard-to-find vinyl records.
They are interested in establishing an online presence and would like to create a website that effectively represents their specialization and services.
Problem
Deadwax Records has established a website; however, it requires enhancement. They intend to redesign their website in a manner that is well-organized and to incorporate a concept page that allows users to locate and purchase vinyl recordings.
Objective
Determine how users navigate to search for music/records.
Understand how they feel about current music searching features on different platforms.
Understand how they typically discover music on music platforms.
Learn about purchasing experience of vinyl records.
Learn about their pain points in accessing and using music platforms to buy and purchase music, CDs, and Vinyl records.
Process
Discover
Define
Design
Validate
Discover
Competitive Analysis
It was crucial to analyze the local competition of Deadwax Records in order to identify potential opportunities to integrate into the product. A competitive analysis was conducted on three local companies.
(Click image to see the result)
Discover
Survey and Interview
Through a limited number of knowledgeable participants (three interviewees and ten survey participants), they were able to offer me valuable insights into the requirements, wants, and pain points associated with purchasing vinyl records online. While researching vinyl records and the participants' vinyl record purchasing patterns, I acquired critical insights:
Whether you are a sound devotee or a collector, purchasing vinyl is an expensive endeavor. It is also an industry in which it is possible to be scammed if one fails to conduct rigorous due diligence on secondhand records. Users have indicated that they utilize reviews, images, and any other form of information that can provide them with confidence in their purchase, as records are not tangibly visible at the time of purchase when purchased online.
Participants have discussed that they typically pre-plan what they wish to purchase due to the cost of purchasing recordings. They typically peruse a list of recordings they have saved in their wishlist, sales, or new releases.
Define
Sitemap
In order to provide the client with a clear understanding of the navigation and pages of the current website, I developed a sitemap that more effectively organizes the information structure and contents.
(Click image to see the sitemap)
Define
Task Flow
(Click image to see the Task Flow)
Define
Color & Typeface Selection
The client was adamant about incorporating the logo's color into the website and selecting a motif that evoked a 70's/80's aesthetic, despite my initial impression that the color was harsh. In order to ensure that the colors were accessible, I was required to employ primary and secondary colors in a creative manner.
Primary
Secondary
Neutrals
Design
Wireframe
(Click image to see the Mid-Fidelity Wireframe)
Design
High-Fidelity Prototype
(Click image to see the High-Fidelity Wireframe)
Validate
Usability Test Results
Need to include a review section.
Bigger font size for some elements.
Add a back page link to the selected vinyl page to navigate back to the genre pages.
Reduce white spaces.
Move the subtotal amount and checkout button to the right side of the shopping cart page.
(Click image to see the Usability Test Results)
Validate
Iteration
Before
After
Design
Prototype
(Click image to view Prototype)
Conclusion
What I learned?
Insights into the discovery process were significantly enhanced by open-ended surveys.
To prevent exceeding the limit, establish a time and monitor the design phase.
Compromise between the inputs of the client and the consumers by being innovative with the constraints.